QMJHL Report: Saint John Sea Dogs

Rarely has a team been as dominant in the QMJHL as the Saint John Sea Dogs have been this season. Even more impressive is that the teams core is made up of 18-year olds who have a good chance of coming back next season. McKeen's correspondent Rick Springhetti looks at several Sea Dogs eligible for the 2011 NHL Entry Draft.

Nathan Beaulieu (2011), D, Saint John

Son of former Sea Dogs head coach and current London Knights assistant coach Jacques Beaulieu .. plays the game with a lot of confidence .. can get the puck out of his zone quickly and effectively with a tape-to-tape pass and does so with authority .. keeps his head up at all times .. pivots well .. starts and stops are crisp .. fine straight-ahead speed .. has a little bit of work to do when moving backwards .. has a hard slapshot that he uses often but has also started using his wristshot when he wants to get the puck at the net quickly .. can slow down or speed up the pace of the game comfortably when playing the point on the powerplay .. makes smarter decisions in term of positioning and cutting passing lanes in his own zone.. willing to block shots .. plays with an edge but unlike last season, keeps control of his emotions enough not to get carried away.

Gabriel Bourret (2011), D, Saint John

Decent straight-ahead skater .. pivots are difficult for him, as he tends to have trouble with balance and getting himself back into position ..however, he has shown some improvement as the season progressed.. has some decent power behind his slapshot from the point .. knows when he can pinch-in and support the offense or when to back off and play it safe .. makes a simple but effective first pass .. brings some solid secondary scoring from the backend .. understands his limits and doesn't try to do more than he can .. tries to play the puck more than the man in his own zone .. loses battles along the boards, as he still has to work on his upper-body strength.

Jonathan Huberdeau (2011), C, Saint John

Not a great skater by any means but he thinks the game so well and keeps his feet moving that he always seems to be where the puck is .. doesn't hesitate when he has a decision to make and usually makes the right one .. will not hesitate to go right at the net hard if he sees an opportunity to create offense .. not intimidated by anyone and will answer back when challenged physically .. very quick hands .. fluid stickhandler who can keep control of the puck in traffic .. has a good wristshot that he manages to use very often .. release is very quick .. uses a long stick to defend .. easily pushed off the puck if opposition manages to get to him, which they don't often do .. aware of his positioning in the defensive zone .. often cuts-off passes and is able to transition from defense to offense quickly ..has to improve his play in the faceoff circle .. one the smartest players in the QJMHL when it comes to creating offense.

Tomas Jurco (2011), RW, Saint John

Player with great tools but can't take full advantage of them because he is too reactive to the play around him, as he has trouble making good reads .. can jump into openings on the ice very quickly and takes full advantage of them .. hard to separate him from the puck once he gets going .. intensity can wane from shift to shift .. very soft hands when stickhandling .. sniper who doesn't miss scoring chances near the slot .. needs to better commit to his defence .. takes needless risks at times when passing the puck, but generally, his decisions lead to scoring chances for his linemates .. very strong player who can push through tight checking when he wants to.

Scott Oke (2011), LW, Saint John

Winger with a large frame .. not a great skater but able to move comfortably enough .. surprisingly good balance, as opponents have a hard time knocking off the puck .. excels on the forecheck and the cycling game .. loves to play the body and will do so with authority .. tends to get rid of the puck a little quickly, would like to see him hold on to the puck a little longer to give his linemates a chance to get involved in the play .. hard on the puckcarrier in the defensive zone .. has a long reach so he can also cut passing lanes or play the puck .. used a lot in defensive situations .. doesn't have very soft hands near the crease .. will never be much of a point producer.

Zack Phillips (2011) RW, Saint John

A lot of was expected of him after a successful first season but he has exceeded expectations .. not a great skater in terms of speed .. turns are a little wide affecting him a little on the forecheck .. has a tendency of keeping his head down when handling the puck especially when carrying the puck up the ice .. anticipates the play very well in the offensive zone and is often able to find open spaces quickly .. shoots the puck almost as often as he passes it so he becomes unpredictable to the opposition .. understands the importance of keeping his stick on the ice when going to the net .. has a very good shot on net, hitting his target with regularity .. sees some time at center but much more effective when playing the wing .. gives a good effort in his own zone, although he still has to work on his overall play .. not especially physical.

Ryan Tesink (2011), LW, Saint John

Aggressive player on the forecheck .. excels on the cycling game but gets in trouble when he has to battle for the puck .. goes to the net hard when a teammate has the puck .. average speed, he has good mobility .. turns are tight in particular .. draws penalties when he is moving his feet .. tends to overpass the puck at times .. has to improve upper-body strength .. tends to play the puckcarrier aggressively at times instead of just trying to hold his position .. tends to run a little hot and cold, he will have to be more consistent.